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Whenever a game decides to focus heavily on online multiplayer or co-op play, it’s going to need balancing at some point. That being said, the amount of updates and patches it takes to get the gameplay to feel fair and “just right” will vary from game to game, in the same way that players may or may not feel largely affected by the changes. On one hand, it arguably makes the game better for everyone still playing, but it can also alter the way people play, to the point that it could turn people away....

Today’s release of the official final Grand Theft Auto 5 trailer showed off a little bit more of the dramatic and cinematic elements of what may arguably be the most anticipated game of the year. Although amongst the excitement and buzz, it may have slipped your attention that there were a few other bits of information dropped upon the gaming community from Rockstar’s tower. The soundtrack (read: the non-leaked version) for GTA 5 was revealed via Rolling Stone, through an interview with Rockstar’s soundtrack supervisor Ivan Pavlovich....

Like cops at a bank heist gone wrong, GTA 5 is closing in fast. Set to raid retail shelves on September 17th, Rockstar’s latest effort is giving gamers a whole fortnight’s headstart - to buddy up, sharpen skills and see the sights of Los Santos - before the title’s online elements emerge. First unveiled back in August of this year, GTA 5’s multiplayer mode, dubbed Grand Theft Auto Online will utilize the game’s entire 49 square-mile map, allowing up to 16 players to collaborate, kill and crash into one another across 500 varied missions....

I Am Bread arrived on Steam Early Access months ago by way of the producers of the floppy-armed cult-hit called Surgeon Simulator, meaning the controls are hilariously awkward, and performing seemingly simple tasks quickly becomes an adventure. The early-release edition of I Am Bread has seen its fair share of testing from fans, and the full version finalizes plenty of content for users to enjoy. While there’s no denying it’s YouTube comedy gold, read on to find out if the toast can match the boast....

With over 27 million users playing it daily, free to play MOBA (Massive Online Battle Arena) League of Legends is one of the most popular games in the world. The game is so popular that last year it made over $946 million in revenue, and that was just from selling things like cosmetic items (such as character skins or premium wards) and IP boosts (IP is the currency players use to buy new characters)....

Now that EA Sports has (somewhat) moved past the growing pains of the Xbox One and PS4 many are wondering whether the next iterations of their popular titles will deliver on expectations. Luckily, Madden NFL 15 has arrived to prove that, yes, EA Sports is getting a better grasp on these new systems, while at the same time improving their base formulas. But there is still room for improvement. The game represents a nice foot forward for the franchise, which is especially meaningful given its stagnant nature as of late, but it’s not necessarily the must-play fans hope for....

Mass Effect 4 may still be too early in development to make an appearance on our list of most anticipated games for 2015, but that doesn’t mean the video game community isn’t eagerly awaiting any piece of news about the game anyway. Fans got a taste of what the game’s plan for multiplayer might be last month and the developers are back with another tease to drive the community crazy today....

At E3 2013 last summer the tech that blew us away had nothing to do with the next-gen consoles from Microsoft and Sony, it was a prototype virtual reality headset from Oculus VR. We had gotten hands-on with the Oculus Rift while playing EVE-VR (now EVE: Valkyrie) and it forever changed us. This new type of virtual reality worked, and worked wonderfully. It was truly what next-gen gaming would become....

PlayStation gamers have oft felt left behind from the Minecraft phenomenon, which has had console exclusivity on Microsoft platforms since the initial Xbox Arcade last year. Now that the holidays are approaching, PS3 gamers will be happy to hear that Minecraft will finally be available on the PSN beginning December 17th, 2013. Mojang had previously stated that once Microsoft’s console exclusivity contract was expired, they’d like to see the block-building game jump to into the Sony market as well - including PS4 and Vita, which are expected to be released sometime in 2014....

Annual sports games are often hit or miss for longtime fans of the respective franchise. Last year’s NHL game from EA Sports, for example, was a massive miss in the eyes of gamers and hockey aficionados alike. Aside from implementing new puck physics and other upgrades that helped create a more true-to-life experience on the latest pair of consoles, it came at the cost of a number of fan-favorite modes....

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can. Which is apparently never star in a successful sequel. While developer Beenox was able to deliver a compelling multi-Spider-Man experience with Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, they took a step back with their sophomore effort, Edge of Time, and tried to create a more intimate, time-bending experience shared by only two Spider-Men. Those Spider-Men in question are the Amazing Spider-Man, the traditional Peter Parker version of the web slinger, and Spider-Man 2099, a more gadget-heavy crime fighter....

It’s not often that an early access title manages to make waves that continue to permeate the gaming industry for more than a few months. Whether it’s the latest in open world zombie survival or an experiment in world creation, these experiences often lack the staying power necessary for promoting growth. Star Citizen exists as an outlier, having held the interest of both gamers and press since its initial announcement....

With the San Diego Comic-Con only a few days away, ferrets continue to sneak out information early to throw up onto the internet. One of the bigger talking points that will be at the show is BioWare’s heavily anticipated Star Wars: The Old Republic, which has been wrapped in a great deal of mystery thanks to it’s potential for MMO innovation. Yet a little more light may have been cast on the title from “far, far away,” as Polish retailer Empik has somehow captured what appears to be the first image of Star Wars: The Old Republic’s box art, along with information on some pre-order goodies – specifically, “a color stone to change your weapon effect....

The road to Star Wars Battlefront has been a rocky one, full of rumors, hype, and speculation. Despite the game’s incredible fan following, we’ve still seen no live gameplay. Stunning concept art and the promise that the game will carry on in the tradition of its predecessor has been enough to keep gamers believing in the Star Wars FPS, and it’s not stopping any time soon. Today, the developers of the game are continuing their trend of hyperbole with promises about the upcoming reveal of gameplay footage....

Bethesda has been doing a lot of talking lately regarding the console versions of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. They’ve talked about how there are advantages to developing on consoles, and have even discussed the possibility of a port being made for Nintendo’s next gen console, the Wii U. While the console versions of Skyrim are going to be huge sellers for Bethesda, the PC version will be the one to play in terms of graphical fidelity – and for RPG purists that wish to use Bethesda’s traditional PC based controls....

The survival horror genre has been to a lot of interesting places of late - particularly in the indie scene with games like Slender and Five Nights at Freddy’s - but the trailers for Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami’s new title The Evil Within promised nostalgic long-time gamers a return to the feel of classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill entries. The Evil Within certainly is reminiscent of Silent Hill and Resident Evil (Resident Evil 4, to be exact)....

Up until about two months ago, gamers didn’t even know that Naughty Dog’s highly anticipated survival title, The Last of Us, offered an online multiplayer experience. Most assumed that, like the first Uncharted, The Last of Us would be a singleplayer-only experience, perhaps even a singular, one-off experience (read: no sequels). However, that was not the case, and as it turns out Naughty Dog was tooling The Last of Us’ multiplayer to be"best ever....

Tie-in games can be a treacherous line to traverse. While there are exceptions to the rule, many tie-ins are seen as less-than-favorable. It is for this reason that it’s a source of excitement and cautious optimism to hear that Bayonetta developer Platinum Games is working on a game set alongside the popular Nickelodeon show, The Legend of Korra. Based on the TV show of the same name, The Legend of Korra will take the guise of a third-person brawler....

Throughout the Fire Emblem series, players are able to utilize a wide range of units that each come with their own strengths and utility. Since the very first entry in the series, thieves have been a unit type that tote high speed and boast unique utility such as the abilities to steal items from enemies and open locked doors and chests. While thieves offer distinct abilities to one’s army, their usefulness has varied quite a lot across the series history....

343 Industries took control of the Halo franchise during a precarious time for game developers. Gamergate and other controversies raged, and it seemed like nobody could do anything right. A new developer taking ownership of a franchise as beloved as Halo felt like an exercise in futility, and the studio head admits there were “growing pains.” Despite the continued divisions over 343’s changes to Halo, in comparison to other developers, the studio has faired well even if it is not one of the ten best FPS developers, according to Metacritic....